Well, at least all the detectives can finally rest now. Unless Latin America's still going on.

No way! The filming of the race is just the beginning of the adventure, not the end...Just because the racers stop racing, doesn't mean the detecting finishes. People are still blogging and posting holiday photos when they get home from their trip. Teams to identify, known locations to research further, flight options to narrow down. Still plenty to do on both TAR and TARA for any one who wants to join in the fun. *hint* hint*

i have read from somewhere that the 1st team that will be eliminated is one of the teams from Philippines...judging from photos that were uploaded showing that the 2 girls team from the Phils at least made it to NZ, it could be the male team from Philippines that were eliminated? not sure how reliable the source is...but it would be interesting to see what went wrong for that team as seemingly they look like physically they're the most capable out of all the teams!

i have read from somewhere that the 1st team that will be eliminated is one of the teams from Philippines...judging from photos that were uploaded showing that the 2 girls team from the Phils at least made it to NZ, it could be the male team from Philippines that were eliminated? not sure how reliable the source is...but it would be interesting to see what went wrong for that team as seemingly they look like physically they're the most capable out of all the teams!

No. I believe Franz_Manu saw Rich and Rich at the airport counter. (Saying that Rich and Rich were saying "we're trying to be team no. 1" or something)

since New Zealand will be feature on TARA 4 and there's a news right now that NZ was hit by an earthquake today, I wonder if Allan Wu will make a special announcement for the condolence and help on the NZ earthquake just like Phil Keoghan did to Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Chile earthquake, this year? Hmmm, another TAR disaster curse?!

anyway, knowing the team will fly from Sri lanka, Richard and Richard's lead will be wasted on this leg as I'm sure all teams would be arriving on the same flight. If not, the flight from Manila to Albay would be it.

A Manila Bulletin article about this leg:

The Amazing Race Asia' Hits the Philippines in the Next Leg

Manila Bulletin - Friday, October 15

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - With the majestic Mount Mayon greeting the racers upon touch down, "The Amazing Race Asia" travels to the Philippines with a pit stop here in magnificent island resort of Misibis Bay. Touted as the series' most expensive production yet, Legazpi City and Misibis Bay Resorts host the Asian version of this popular reality TV race in an effort to show the world how beautiful the Bicolandia region is.

A handful of media people were flown in to Legazpi with the two-man Philippine team of Richard Herrera and Richard Hardin (also called 'The Riches') to recreate the tasks on the race-or perhaps to torture them.

"It was one of the most physical legs [in the race]," admits Herrera. But he did say that when they found out they were going to the Philippines next, "We were very, very excited..."

"We were hoping that some part of it would be in Manila," Hardin states. The other teams, they've had home court advantage... the Malaysian teams, they both [finished first], right? We were hoping we could move around Manila. 'Cause we were pretty good in Manila, Alabang... Me and Rich (Herrera), north, south... we've been there... Makati." But the boys didn't have such luck.

Hardin, who came to the Philippines roughly six years ago to play basketball for the MBA, has traveled to several provinces before. "I've been to Mindanao, Cebu, Osamis... But Legazpi, not once..."

The Riches, as with the rest of the racers (including the other all-girl Philippine team composed of Jess James and Lani Pillinger), were faced with a Detour once they got to Misibis Bay. With two tasks to choose from, the hardy boys boldly went for the one where they could literally get down and dirty. Between the "Jig" (wherein they had to learn some dance steps to the severely LSS-inducing "Ibalong" song that told of Bicol's early epic tale of heroes) and the "Pig" (a more physically demanding task at that!), the look on the boys' faces as they relate their experience told us we're in for hours of TV fun... at their expense!

Of their choice to mud wrestle with wily pigs, Hardin kids, much to everyone's amusement, "I saw some of the ['Ibalong'] moves...It's not my style!" He adds, "I'm more of a hip-hop guy," demonstrating he's got some swag right there on his chair.

Posing a challenge to the members of the media, the Riches helped recreate their soon-to-be proudest TV moment-it certainly would go well when they watch the episode with their friends, which they often do-with a couple of press people. Indeed, the task seemed daunting, and the pigs (much smaller this time than the ones in the actual race) obviously weren't too happy.

"We kind of squeal like that on the show sometimes, too," Herrera drawls. But the real danger is in what the eyes can't see. "He was cut up from head to toe. He got pounded. He was rolling around in the mud," Herrera says of Hardin, half in jest and half with pride.

"Oh, I would say there's more than [just] mud. There's just things in the bottom of the pen... it cuts you up," Herrara adds, shaking his head. "I actually went in with shoes, but I take them off because they would get stuck." Needless to say, the clothes they were wearing then were ruined for good.

Hardin reveals that for the task, somebody rubbed what he says was vegetable oil "on our arm and our chest."

"The guy was having too much fun putting it on, too," Herrera jokes.

"The crowd was going insane," Herrera says, recalling the task. Indeed, there were about 200 people who cheered the boys on, shared Misibis Bay resort manager Ian Varona. And Herrera exclaims, "I think it was the most Tagalog that I spoke in the entire leg!" interject

At the pit stop, over by the amphitheater overlooking the sea, a short distance above the Misibis Bay resort, the racers were greeted by the ebullient Tessa Prieto-Valdez in a colorful gown of roses and a matching headdress designed by Pepsi Herrera, styled by Eldzs Mejia. A source reveals that the ever-quirky Prieto-Valdez has, in fact, become one of the production team's favorite greeters in the entire race.

While there is still a long way to go to determine the winners of "The Amazing Race Asia," the Riches could at least reveal one thing-a valuable lesson. "Keep your mouths closed," Herrera dryly says. "First hand experience... it does not taste well."

Indeed, pushing themselves to their limits, the Riches might have still made it past the Philippine leg-they wouldn't reveal anything, no matter how hard we try (bribes and plying them with alcohol do not work). Retracing the racers' path, the media also visited the Lig˝on Hill Nature Park, where tourists could also go on several zip lines with a view of Mayon; as well as the Cagsawa Ruins, where tourists could visit what remains of the bell tower when Mayon erupted in 1814, burying the main church and the reported 1,200 people that sought refuge there. Cagsawa Ruins could be reached via an hour-or-so ride on All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), which the racers did-as did the media, led this time by the unstoppable Riches.

"We ran as hard as we could all the time," Herrera reveals as much of their racing strategy. "But it doesn't necessarily mean it was in the right direction... So we try not to run too far in the wrong direction."

How did the Riches fare in the Philippine leg of the race? With mouths closed, find out on Thursday, October 21 at 9pm as "The Amazing Race Asia" Season 4 airs exclusively on AXN.

I'm glad that with Ivan and Hilda's elimination, this is wrong! But the first 3 eliminations have been accurate so far... So I actually feel that this list is generally correct, perhaps a few switches here and there. I still see Ethan and Khairie winning it all, and the Richards coming in second place. Hmm...